Return Policy Generator
Answer a short form — store name, what you offer, return window, conditions, refund method, who pays return shipping, contact — and get a clean, numbered return and refund policy to copy onto your store.
Inputs
What do you offer?
Comma-separated. Leave blank to skip this clause.
Your policy
RETURN & REFUND POLICY — OUR STORE 1. Return window You may request a return or exchange within 7 days of the delivery date shown in your tracking. Requests raised after this window cannot be accepted. 2. Conditions • The item must be unused, unwashed and in its original condition. • All tags, labels and accessories must be intact and attached. • The item must be returned in its original packaging. 3. How to start a return Message us at [your email / WhatsApp number] with your order number, the item you want to return and the reason. We reply with the next steps within 2 working days. Do not ship anything back before we confirm. 4. Return shipping You ship the item back to us using any courier; return shipping charges are borne by you. Please share the tracking number with us once dispatched. 5. Refunds Once the returned item reaches us and passes inspection, we approve the refund. Refunds are returned to the original payment method (UPI, card, net banking or wallet). Cash-on-delivery orders are refunded by UPI transfer to the UPI ID you share with us. Refunds are processed within 7 working days of approval; your bank or UPI app may take a few more days to show the credit. Original shipping charges and COD fees are not refundable unless the item was damaged, defective or wrong. 6. Damaged, defective or wrong items If your order arrives damaged, defective or different from what you ordered, contact us at [your email / WhatsApp number] within 48 hours of delivery with photos. We will arrange a free replacement or a full refund including shipping. Contact For any question about this policy, reach our store at [your email / WhatsApp number].
This is a plain-language template, not legal advice. Consumer-protection rules for e-commerce in India change; check them (or ask a professional) before relying on any clause, especially “no returns”.
What this return policy generator does
It turns ten decisions into a policy a customer can read in a minute. You choose between returns + exchanges, exchange only, or no returns; set the window (counted from delivery) and the refund timeline; tick the conditions that apply (unused, tags intact, original packaging, unboxing video for damage claims); list non-returnable categories; pick how you refund (original payment method, UPI transfer, store credit, exchange only) and who pays return shipping; and add your contact. The output is numbered, plain English, updates as you type, and copies with one tap. The text stays in your browser.
How to use it
Decide what you can actually honour
A generous policy you cannot afford is worse than a strict one you keep. Size the window and refund method to your cash flow.
Fill in the form
Store name, mode, days, conditions, non-returnable items, refund method, return shipping, contact. Each change re-renders the policy instantly.
Read it as a customer
Is the window clear? Is it obvious how to start a return? Would you know what happens to a COD refund?
Copy and publish
Paste into a Return Policy page on your store, link it from the footer and the product page, and save a short version as a WhatsApp quick reply.
Worked example
Worked example
Inputs:store “Meera Handmade Jewellery”; returns + exchanges; 7-day window; refund within 7 working days; conditions: unused, tags intact, original packaging, unboxing video for damage claims; non-returnable: earrings, customised or engraved items; refund by original payment method; customer pays return shipping; contact +91 98765 43210.
Output (excerpt):“1. Return window — You may request a return or exchange within 7 days of the delivery date shown in your tracking. … 3. Non-returnable items — For hygiene and safety reasons the following cannot be returned or exchanged unless they arrive damaged or defective: earrings, customised or engraved items. … 6. Refunds — Refunds are returned to the original payment method (UPI, card, net banking or wallet). Cash-on-delivery orders are refunded by UPI transfer to the UPI ID you share with us. Refunds are processed within 7 working days of approval … Original shipping charges and COD fees are not refundable unless the item was damaged, defective or wrong.”
Switch the mode to “No returns” and the same inputs produce a three-clause policy that still covers damaged and wrong items.
What a good small-store policy gets right
- ✓Counts the window from delivery, not from the order date, and names the source of truth (tracking).
- ✓Requires the customer to message first — no surprise parcels arriving at your home address.
- ✓Separates change-of-mind returns (customer pays shipping) from damaged / wrong items (you pay, always).
- ✓Says exactly how COD orders are refunded, because there is nothing to reverse.
- ✓Lists non-returnable categories up front so the argument never starts.
- ✓Gives one contact channel and a reply-time promise.
Handling the actual conversations — the angry DM, the photo that proves nothing, the courier that lost the return — is covered in how to handle customer service as an online seller. If returns are eating your margin, the COD vs prepaid calculator shows what each RTO costs and whether a COD charge or prepaid discount would help.
Frequently asked questions
Is the generated policy legally binding?
It is a plain-language template, not legal advice. Consumer-protection and e-commerce rules in India set expectations around refunds and disclosures, and they change. Read the output, adjust it to what you actually do, and have a professional review it if you sell at scale or in a regulated category.
Can I have a 'no returns' policy?
Many small sellers of customised, perishable or hygiene-sensitive products do. The generator's 'No returns' mode still includes a clause for damaged, defective or wrong items — you should always cover those, both because buyers expect it and because a blanket refusal is the fastest way to lose a dispute or a review.
How long should the return window be?
Seven days from delivery is a common, workable choice for small stores, with a longer window (10–15 days) for higher-value items where buyers want time to check. Pick what your cash flow can honour. Count from the delivery date in the tracking, not the order date, and say so — the generator does.
How do I refund a cash-on-delivery order?
There is no card or UPI transaction to reverse, so you need the customer's UPI ID or bank details. Pick 'UPI transfer' or 'Original payment method' as the refund method — both add a line explaining that COD orders are refunded by UPI transfer to the ID the customer shares.
Where should I put the policy?
On its own page linked from the store footer, a short version on each product page near the price, and in your WhatsApp quick replies. A policy nobody can find before paying is the policy that gets argued about after.
Put this to work on a free online store
Paste the policy where buyers will see it. A free SitesPlaced store has editable footer and policy pages, a Track Order page for delivery dates, and WhatsApp checkout so return requests arrive with the order number attached.
Open your free store →₹0 to publish, unlimited products, 0% commission. Razorpay, COD, WhatsApp checkout, Shiprocket and Shipmozo included free. ₹499/month (early-bird; ₹999 after the first 30 stores) adds a custom domain, branding removal, AI copy, analytics, Meta Pixel + CAPI and WhatsApp Business API alerts. See pricing.
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